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* TheGloriousWarOfSisterlyRivalry: Oldest daughter Elizabeth is the pretty but BookDumb sister, while middle daughter Robin is the smart, nerdy sister. They occasionally bicker because of it.
Changed line(s) 35,36 (click to see context) from:
* LoveAtFirstSight: More somewhere between this and LoveAtFirstPunch, only Polly didn't punch the Major, just trashed him and everything he's worked for in a news article.
** She did ''try'' to punch him, in an attempt that only further made his point about the validity of a "peace offensive".
** She did ''try'' to punch him, in an attempt that only further made his point about the validity of a "peace offensive".
to:
* LoveAtFirstSight: More somewhere between this and LoveAtFirstPunch, only Polly didn't punch the Major, just trashed him and everything he's worked for in a news article.
**article. She did ''try'' to punch him, in an attempt that only further made his point about the validity of a "peace offensive".
**
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* TheTeetotaler: Holowachuk doesn't drink, which becomes an issue when he gets promoted to First Lieutenant and has to take part in a wetting down ceremony -- an event normally accompanied by enormous amounts of alcohol. While his peers try to pressure him into drinking, Mac stands up for Holowachuk and convinces everyone to take part in the traditional antics sober, leading to everyone having lots of fun while remarking that this is the first wetting down they'll properly remember.
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Changed line(s) 33,34 (click to see context) from:
* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: The radio station with the unscrupulous owner who wants the "Love Doctor" to give lame rhyming advice to people in need is named "KOCS".
** Also, "...it got so shoppers all over Boise could tell could tell, just by looking, if Uncle Arnie had handled their breasts." in the 1st season episode where the Major gets his transfer orders.
** Also, "...it got so shoppers all over Boise could tell could tell, just by looking, if Uncle Arnie had handled their breasts." in the 1st season episode where the Major gets his transfer orders.
to:
%% * GettingCrapPastTheRadar: The radio station with the unscrupulous owner who wants the "Love Doctor" GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to give lame rhyming advice to people in need overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is named "KOCS".
** Also, "...it got so shoppers all over Boise could tell could tell, just by looking, if Uncle Arnie had handled their breasts."on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the 1st season episode where future, please check the Major gets his transfer orders.trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.
** Also, "...it got so shoppers all over Boise could tell could tell, just by looking, if Uncle Arnie had handled their breasts."
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* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: With the exception of Polly, everyone calls John "Major", even his daughters.
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* RealLifeWritesThePlot: Actor Jon Cypher broke his leg in two places after a dress rehearsal for a stage production of "Oliver!" resulting in General Craig having to spend the fourth season in a wheelchair and then crutches.
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Changed line(s) 19 (click to see context) from:
-->Major, she claimed that we exist to train young people to kill!"\\
to:
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Changed line(s) 4 (click to see context) from:
->'''''Secretary:''' I like Marines. They're polite, respectful, and very friendly.''
to:
Changed line(s) 6,9 (click to see context) from:
->'''''Polly:''' They're strong, too.''
This is not your standard sitcom. This is the story of Major John [=McGillis=] and the woman he fell in love with. And her three daughters. ''Major Dad'' lasted 4 seasons and 96 episodes (September, 1989-April, 1993).
This is not your standard sitcom. This is the story of Major John [=McGillis=] and the woman he fell in love with. And her three daughters. ''Major Dad'' lasted 4 seasons and 96 episodes (September, 1989-April, 1993).
to:
This is not your standard sitcom. This is the story of Major John [=McGillis=] and the woman he fell in love with. And her three daughters. ''Major Dad'' lasted 4 seasons and 96 episodes
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This is not your standard sitcom. This is the story of Major John [=McGillis=] and the woman he fell in love with. And her three daughters.
to:
This is not your standard sitcom. This is the story of Major John [=McGillis=] and the woman he fell in love with. And her three daughters.
daughters. ''Major Dad'' lasted 4 seasons and 96 episodes (September, 1989-April, 1993).
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None
* ReallyGetsAround: Gunny. Oh wow Gunny. Among other things, she's an expert on which motels in the tri-county area are suitable for staying at due to having stayed in most of them (and most of the rooms in them) at some point.
Deleted line(s) 49 (click to see context) :
* ReallyGetsAround: Gunny. Oh wow Gunny. Among other things, she's an expert on which motels in the tri-county area are suitable for staying at due to having stayed in most of them (and most of the rooms in them) at some point.
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Useful Notes/ pages are not tropes
Deleted line(s) 61 (click to see context) :
* YanksWithTanks: The Marines, specifically. Lots of Marines.
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None
Changed line(s) 60 (click to see context) from:
* WhyWeAreBummedCommunismFell: Played with in an episode where a [[TheNewRussia Russian]] major visits Hollister. Both Mac and Gunny admit to General Craig that they're unsure of how to feel, as they both had been trained in the Marines to distrust Russians.
to:
* WhyWeAreBummedCommunismFell: Played with in an episode where a [[TheNewRussia [[UsefulNotes/TheNewRussia Russian]] major visits Hollister. Both Mac and Gunny admit to General Craig that they're unsure of how to feel, as they both had been trained in the Marines to distrust Russians.
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None
Changed line(s) 56 (click to see context) from:
* TwerpSweating: The Major automatically does this with any boy the girls bring home and goes extra hard on any marines Elizabeth takes a liking to since he knows what young Marines are after. This usually doesn't last, though, because he inevitably ends up liking all of them while still keeping a close eye on the relationships. He also attempts this with boys Casey likes but they're all too young to realize what's going on.
to:
* TwerpSweating: The Major automatically does this with any boy the girls bring home and goes extra hard on any marines Marines Elizabeth takes a liking to since he knows what young Marines are after. This usually doesn't last, though, because he inevitably ends up liking all of them while still keeping a close eye on the relationships. He also attempts this with boys Casey likes but they're all too young to realize what's going on.
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None
Changed line(s) 56 (click to see context) from:
* TwerpSweating: The Major automatically does this with any boy the girls bring home and goes extra hard on any marines Elizabeth takes a liking to since he knows what young marines are after. This usually doesn't last, though, because he inevitably ends up liking all of them while still keeping a close eye on the relationships. He also attempts this with boys Casey likes but they're all too young to realize what's going on.
to:
* TwerpSweating: The Major automatically does this with any boy the girls bring home and goes extra hard on any marines Elizabeth takes a liking to since he knows what young marines Marines are after. This usually doesn't last, though, because he inevitably ends up liking all of them while still keeping a close eye on the relationships. He also attempts this with boys Casey likes but they're all too young to realize what's going on.
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* NotSoAboveItAll: As straight-laced and professional as the Major is, there are moments when he can't help but be drawn into some of the more inane un-military things that General Craig, Lieutenant Holowachuk, and Gunny Bricker get up to in the office.
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None
Changed line(s) 26 (click to see context) from:
* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: Season one of the show was set in the fictional Camp Singleton, where the Major commanded an infantry training school, had a blonde secretary a la [[WKRPInCincinnati Jennifer Marlowe]], and had early trouble adapting to being a dad. This all was dropped in favor of a retool the following season.
to:
* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: Season one of the show was set in the fictional Camp Singleton, where the Major commanded an infantry training school, had a blonde secretary a la [[WKRPInCincinnati [[Series/WKRPInCincinnati Jennifer Marlowe]], and had early trouble adapting to being a dad. This all was dropped in favor of a retool the following season.
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None
Changed line(s) 28 (click to see context) from:
* EmbarrassingMiddleName: Polly E. [=McGillis=]. The E stands for Ester.
to:
* EmbarrassingMiddleName: Polly E. [=McGillis=]. The E stands for Ester.[[PunnyName Ester]].
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* TwerpSweating: The Major automatically does this with any boy the girls bring home and goes extra hard on any marines Elizabeth takes a liking to since he knows what young marines are after. This usually doesn't last, though, because he inevitably ends up liking all of them while still keeping a close eye on the relationships. He also attempts this with boys Casey likes but they're all too young to realize what's going on.
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* ReassignedToAntarctica: The Major, Holowachuck, and Gunny Bricker team up to get a particularly troublesome sergeant transferred from Hollister to Iceland.
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None
Changed line(s) 37 (click to see context) from:
* MildlyMilitary: Subverted and played straight all at the same time. General Craig is rarely 100% professional, except when there's a foreign dignitary or an inspection. Gunny and the Major, on the other hand, are military down to the calluses on their feet.
to:
* MildlyMilitary: Subverted and played straight all at the same time. General Craig is rarely 100% professional, except when there's a foreign dignitary or an inspection. Holowachuk is very sensitive and can get easily sidetracked from his duties. Even Gunny and Bricker likes to cut loose in the office from time to time. The Major, on the other hand, are is military down to the calluses on their feet.his feet and the other three characters call him a buzzkill behind his back.
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* TheFundamentalist: The show would occasionally use the uniformed characters (mainly John, of course) to tell the audience what's wrong with the country. Most commonly during the 3rd and 4th seasons.
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* SoapboxSadie: Polly was a minor one. Guest Vicki Lawrence played a rather cartoonish one.
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None
Changed line(s) 39 (click to see context) from:
* ObviousStuntDouble: In "Silent Drill Team", when John is asked to perform with the drill team he is only shown from behind and from far away in effort to fool the audience into thinking that Gerald McRaney is performing the very complicated and dangerous routine...it doesn't work.
to:
* ObviousStuntDouble: In "Silent Drill Team", when John is asked to perform with the drill team he is only shown from behind and from far away in effort to fool the audience into thinking that Gerald McRaney [=McRaney=] is performing the very complicated and dangerous routine...it doesn't work.
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None
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* ObviousStuntDouble: In "Silent Drill Team", when John is asked to perform with the drill team he is only shown from behind and from far away in effort to fool the audience into thinking that Gerald McRaney is performing the very complicated and dangerous routine...it doesn't work.
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** In one episode where the General has the Major write a welcome home speech for Marines returning home from Desert Storm, he writes a standard "Good job, men" speech that the General wants redone. When he related how he was greeted when returning from Vietnam (snuck out the back of the plane in civvies to avoid protesters), the General tells him to write the speech that that Marine ''should'' have received.
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None
Changed line(s) 43 (click to see context) from:
* PoliticianGuestStar: Then Vice President Dan Quayle shows up in the season 2 episode "Birthday Ball" to help the main characters celebrate the 215th anniversary of the Marine Corps.
to:
* PoliticianGuestStar: Then Vice President Dan Quayle UsefulNotes/DanQuayle shows up in the season 2 episode "Birthday Ball" to help the main characters celebrate the 215th anniversary of the Marine Corps.
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None
Changed line(s) 51 (click to see context) from:
* VerySpecialEpisode: Two were back to back in the final season. One episode saw Gunny's house get burglarized, and dealt with how she handled it; and the following episode had the Major confronting another major who had been [[AbusiveParent abusing]] his wife and son. The end of the latter featured Gerald [=McRaney=] and Nicole Debuc out of character, giving a number to a hotline that abuse victims could call. In addition, a second season episode dealt with the UsefulNotes/GulfWar by having the Major write a letter to UsefulNotes/GeorgeHWBush asking to go fight in Kuwait.
to:
* VerySpecialEpisode: Two were back to back in the final season. One episode saw Gunny's house get burglarized, and dealt with how she handled it; and the following episode had the Major confronting another major who had been [[AbusiveParent abusing]] his wife and son. The end of the latter featured Gerald [=McRaney=] and Nicole Debuc out of character, giving a number to a hotline that abuse victims could call. In addition, a second season episode dealt with the UsefulNotes/GulfWar UsefulNotes/TheGulfWar by having the Major write a letter to UsefulNotes/GeorgeHWBush asking to go fight in Kuwait.
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None
* PoliticianGuestStar: Then Vice President Dan Quayle shows up in the season 2 episode "Birthday Ball" to help the main characters celebrate the 215th anniversary of the Marine Corps.
Changed line(s) 50 (click to see context) from:
* VerySpecialEpisode: Two were back to back in the final season. One episode saw Gunny's house get burglarized, and dealt with how she handled it; and the following episode had the Major confronting another major who had been [[AbusiveParent abusing]] his wife and son. The end of the latter featured Gerald [=McRaney=] and Nicole Debuc out of character, giving a number to a hotline that abuse victims could call.
to:
* VerySpecialEpisode: Two were back to back in the final season. One episode saw Gunny's house get burglarized, and dealt with how she handled it; and the following episode had the Major confronting another major who had been [[AbusiveParent abusing]] his wife and son. The end of the latter featured Gerald [=McRaney=] and Nicole Debuc out of character, giving a number to a hotline that abuse victims could call. In addition, a second season episode dealt with the UsefulNotes/GulfWar by having the Major write a letter to UsefulNotes/GeorgeHWBush asking to go fight in Kuwait.
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None
Changed line(s) 15,16 (click to see context) from:
!!''MajorDad'' contains examples of:
to:
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None
Changed line(s) 15,16 (click to see context) from:
!!Tropes:
to:
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None
Changed line(s) 1,6 (click to see context) from:
http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/majordad.jpg
[[caption-width:352:The joys of family life.]]
-->'''''Secretary:''' I like Marines. They're polite, respectful, and very friendly.''
-->''[The Major knocks down the screen door as he walks through it]''
-->'''''Polly:''' They're strong, too.''
[[caption-width:352:The joys of family life.]]
-->'''''Secretary:''' I like Marines. They're polite, respectful, and very friendly.''
-->''[The Major knocks down the screen door as he walks through it]''
-->'''''Polly:''' They're strong, too.''
to:
[[caption-width:352:The
[[caption-width-right:350:The joys of family life.
-->'''''Secretary:'''
->'''''Secretary:''' I like Marines. They're polite, respectful, and very friendly.''
Changed line(s) 11 (click to see context) from:
The entire series is available for viewing on {{Hulu}}.
to:
The entire series is available for viewing on {{Hulu}}.Creator/{{Hulu}}.
Changed line(s) 14,15 (click to see context) from:
!!''MajorDad'' contains examples of:
to:
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Moving from Main.
Added DiffLines:
http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/majordad.jpg
[[caption-width:352:The joys of family life.]]
-->'''''Secretary:''' I like Marines. They're polite, respectful, and very friendly.''
-->''[The Major knocks down the screen door as he walks through it]''
-->'''''Polly:''' They're strong, too.''
This is not your standard sitcom. This is the story of Major John [=McGillis=] and the woman he fell in love with. And her three daughters.
So what separates this sitcom from all others? First of all, the military, specifically the United States Marine Corps, is portrayed in a positive light. Second, each plot does not revolve around the characters passing around the IdiotBall and blatantly lying to each other. In fact, some of the characters might be considered a little too honest at times.
The entire series is available for viewing on {{Hulu}}.
----
!!''MajorDad'' contains examples of:
* AndStarring: From season two onward: "And Beverly Archer as 'Gunny' Bricker"
* ArmiesAreEvil: {{Inverted}}, {{subverted}}, and {{lampshaded}}. Heck, [[DiscreditedTrope discrediting]] this trope seems to be almost the point of the show.
-->Major, she claimed that we exist to train young people to kill!"\\
"... Isn't that what we do here?"
* {{BFG}}: Polly gets to fire one of these. And finds out that, [[LawOfInverseRecoil yes, there is recoil]].
* TheCaptain: Okay, he's a Major. And he's never exactly the guy officially in charge. But he might as well be.
* ChildSoldiers: The youngest girl tries to be one to get the respect of the Major after eavesdropping on a dressing down he gave to one of the enlisted men.
* ChuckCunninghamSyndrome: Miss Gunderson and Sgt. James from the first season. [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] in that the Major had been transferred away from Camp Singleton. [[AvertedTrope Averted]] with Lt. Holowachuk, who was coincidentally transferred to Hollister (to the same ''office'', even) at the same time as the Major.
* TheComicallySerious: The Major, he gets most of the laughs because of this. Gunny would apply as well.
* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: Season one of the show was set in the fictional Camp Singleton, where the Major commanded an infantry training school, had a blonde secretary a la [[WKRPInCincinnati Jennifer Marlowe]], and had early trouble adapting to being a dad. This all was dropped in favor of a retool the following season.
** Even ''after'' the retool, the show still had early weirdness. Gunny was coldly methodical towards the Major (eliciting actual boos from the studio audience during her first scene) and General Craig was a bit more intimidating.
* EmbarrassingMiddleName: Polly E. [=McGillis=]. The E stands for Ester.
* FourthDateMarriage: The Major proposes to Polly about three days after meeting her. And the marriage lasts!
** {{lampshaded}} by Elisabeth when she wanted to date a Marine. This did not exactly help her case.
* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: The radio station with the unscrupulous owner who wants the "Love Doctor" to give lame rhyming advice to people in need is named "KOCS".
** Also, "...it got so shoppers all over Boise could tell could tell, just by looking, if Uncle Arnie had handled their breasts." in the 1st season episode where the Major gets his transfer orders.
* LaughTrack: Actually a live studio audience, but it's still there.
* LoveAtFirstSight: More somewhere between this and LoveAtFirstPunch, only Polly didn't punch the Major, just trashed him and everything he's worked for in a news article.
** She did ''try'' to punch him, in an attempt that only further made his point about the validity of a "peace offensive".
* MildlyMilitary: Subverted and played straight all at the same time. General Craig is rarely 100% professional, except when there's a foreign dignitary or an inspection. Gunny and the Major, on the other hand, are military down to the calluses on their feet.
* MilitaryAlphabet: Useful at home and in the office.
* MilitaryBrat: Gunny, and of course the [=McGillis=] kids.
* OddCouple: The Major and Polly. Straight-laced conservative Marine and an (at times self-described) fire-eating liberal (who doesn't even eat red meat). They argue and tease, but they also always respect each other.
* OfficerAndAGentleman: The Major is very military, right down to putting a handkerchief on the floor before kneeling to formally ask Polly's hand in marriage.
* OnlySaneMan: The Major has symptoms of this. Particularly since he's the only man in a house full of women. Including a teenager. Confusion ensues.
* PointyHairedBoss: General Craig
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Both the Major and Polly try to be this. They don't always succeed in being reasonable but they learn; the Major especially takes time learning to tell the difference between being a reasonable military authority figure and being a reasonable parental authority figure.
* ReallyGetsAround: Gunny. Oh wow Gunny. Among other things, she's an expert on which motels in the tri-county area are suitable for staying at due to having stayed in most of them (and most of the rooms in them) at some point.
* ReTool: The series changed setting after the first season as the Major got transferred.
** A few minor ones occurred between the pilot and the second episode as well. Most obviously, the Major's secretary got a lot younger and ditzier.
* SemperFi: Well, ''duh''.
* ServileSnarker: Gunny. As an enlisted marine, she defers to the officers on the base. That doesn't shield them from her scathing sarcasm though.
* StraightMan: The Major is an example who actually gets a lot of the really funny lines ''because'' he's taking things seriously. Ditto for Gunny.
* VerySpecialEpisode: Two were back to back in the final season. One episode saw Gunny's house get burglarized, and dealt with how she handled it; and the following episode had the Major confronting another major who had been [[AbusiveParent abusing]] his wife and son. The end of the latter featured Gerald [=McRaney=] and Nicole Debuc out of character, giving a number to a hotline that abuse victims could call.
* WellDoneSonGuy: When the Major's father visits, Mac reveals that he's never felt like his father has been proud of him. His father struggles with the words and finally says something that seems mild, but is delivered with such heartfelt emotion and has such an effect on Mac that it becomes a TearJerker.
* WhyWeAreBummedCommunismFell: Played with in an episode where a [[TheNewRussia Russian]] major visits Hollister. Both Mac and Gunny admit to General Craig that they're unsure of how to feel, as they both had been trained in the Marines to distrust Russians.
* YanksWithTanks: The Marines, specifically. Lots of Marines.
----
[[caption-width:352:The joys of family life.]]
-->'''''Secretary:''' I like Marines. They're polite, respectful, and very friendly.''
-->''[The Major knocks down the screen door as he walks through it]''
-->'''''Polly:''' They're strong, too.''
This is not your standard sitcom. This is the story of Major John [=McGillis=] and the woman he fell in love with. And her three daughters.
So what separates this sitcom from all others? First of all, the military, specifically the United States Marine Corps, is portrayed in a positive light. Second, each plot does not revolve around the characters passing around the IdiotBall and blatantly lying to each other. In fact, some of the characters might be considered a little too honest at times.
The entire series is available for viewing on {{Hulu}}.
----
!!''MajorDad'' contains examples of:
* AndStarring: From season two onward: "And Beverly Archer as 'Gunny' Bricker"
* ArmiesAreEvil: {{Inverted}}, {{subverted}}, and {{lampshaded}}. Heck, [[DiscreditedTrope discrediting]] this trope seems to be almost the point of the show.
-->Major, she claimed that we exist to train young people to kill!"\\
"... Isn't that what we do here?"
* {{BFG}}: Polly gets to fire one of these. And finds out that, [[LawOfInverseRecoil yes, there is recoil]].
* TheCaptain: Okay, he's a Major. And he's never exactly the guy officially in charge. But he might as well be.
* ChildSoldiers: The youngest girl tries to be one to get the respect of the Major after eavesdropping on a dressing down he gave to one of the enlisted men.
* ChuckCunninghamSyndrome: Miss Gunderson and Sgt. James from the first season. [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] in that the Major had been transferred away from Camp Singleton. [[AvertedTrope Averted]] with Lt. Holowachuk, who was coincidentally transferred to Hollister (to the same ''office'', even) at the same time as the Major.
* TheComicallySerious: The Major, he gets most of the laughs because of this. Gunny would apply as well.
* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: Season one of the show was set in the fictional Camp Singleton, where the Major commanded an infantry training school, had a blonde secretary a la [[WKRPInCincinnati Jennifer Marlowe]], and had early trouble adapting to being a dad. This all was dropped in favor of a retool the following season.
** Even ''after'' the retool, the show still had early weirdness. Gunny was coldly methodical towards the Major (eliciting actual boos from the studio audience during her first scene) and General Craig was a bit more intimidating.
* EmbarrassingMiddleName: Polly E. [=McGillis=]. The E stands for Ester.
* FourthDateMarriage: The Major proposes to Polly about three days after meeting her. And the marriage lasts!
** {{lampshaded}} by Elisabeth when she wanted to date a Marine. This did not exactly help her case.
* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: The radio station with the unscrupulous owner who wants the "Love Doctor" to give lame rhyming advice to people in need is named "KOCS".
** Also, "...it got so shoppers all over Boise could tell could tell, just by looking, if Uncle Arnie had handled their breasts." in the 1st season episode where the Major gets his transfer orders.
* LaughTrack: Actually a live studio audience, but it's still there.
* LoveAtFirstSight: More somewhere between this and LoveAtFirstPunch, only Polly didn't punch the Major, just trashed him and everything he's worked for in a news article.
** She did ''try'' to punch him, in an attempt that only further made his point about the validity of a "peace offensive".
* MildlyMilitary: Subverted and played straight all at the same time. General Craig is rarely 100% professional, except when there's a foreign dignitary or an inspection. Gunny and the Major, on the other hand, are military down to the calluses on their feet.
* MilitaryAlphabet: Useful at home and in the office.
* MilitaryBrat: Gunny, and of course the [=McGillis=] kids.
* OddCouple: The Major and Polly. Straight-laced conservative Marine and an (at times self-described) fire-eating liberal (who doesn't even eat red meat). They argue and tease, but they also always respect each other.
* OfficerAndAGentleman: The Major is very military, right down to putting a handkerchief on the floor before kneeling to formally ask Polly's hand in marriage.
* OnlySaneMan: The Major has symptoms of this. Particularly since he's the only man in a house full of women. Including a teenager. Confusion ensues.
* PointyHairedBoss: General Craig
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Both the Major and Polly try to be this. They don't always succeed in being reasonable but they learn; the Major especially takes time learning to tell the difference between being a reasonable military authority figure and being a reasonable parental authority figure.
* ReallyGetsAround: Gunny. Oh wow Gunny. Among other things, she's an expert on which motels in the tri-county area are suitable for staying at due to having stayed in most of them (and most of the rooms in them) at some point.
* ReTool: The series changed setting after the first season as the Major got transferred.
** A few minor ones occurred between the pilot and the second episode as well. Most obviously, the Major's secretary got a lot younger and ditzier.
* SemperFi: Well, ''duh''.
* ServileSnarker: Gunny. As an enlisted marine, she defers to the officers on the base. That doesn't shield them from her scathing sarcasm though.
* StraightMan: The Major is an example who actually gets a lot of the really funny lines ''because'' he's taking things seriously. Ditto for Gunny.
* VerySpecialEpisode: Two were back to back in the final season. One episode saw Gunny's house get burglarized, and dealt with how she handled it; and the following episode had the Major confronting another major who had been [[AbusiveParent abusing]] his wife and son. The end of the latter featured Gerald [=McRaney=] and Nicole Debuc out of character, giving a number to a hotline that abuse victims could call.
* WellDoneSonGuy: When the Major's father visits, Mac reveals that he's never felt like his father has been proud of him. His father struggles with the words and finally says something that seems mild, but is delivered with such heartfelt emotion and has such an effect on Mac that it becomes a TearJerker.
* WhyWeAreBummedCommunismFell: Played with in an episode where a [[TheNewRussia Russian]] major visits Hollister. Both Mac and Gunny admit to General Craig that they're unsure of how to feel, as they both had been trained in the Marines to distrust Russians.
* YanksWithTanks: The Marines, specifically. Lots of Marines.
----
